Category Archives: This ‘n’ That

Pacifica High School earned college scholarships

Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills,

Talented teens from Pacifica High School earned college scholarships at the California Restaurant Foundation’s 2024 ProStart Cup presented by Wienerschnitzel, a culinary arts and restaurant entrepreneurship competition held on February 21 and 22 at the Long Beach Convention Center. Over 250 students from across California showcased their skills, crafting three-course meals and presenting restaurant concepts to industry pros. Pacifica High School’s team secured third place in the BJ’s Restaurants Culinary Competition, with each student awarded scholarships to esteemed institutions like The Culinary Institute of America, Cal Poly Pomona, San Diego State University, Johnson & Wales University and more.

Additionally, the California Restaurant Foundation identified Pacifica High School ProStart teacher, Kristen Collins, as its “CA ProStart Educator of the Year.” Kristen brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her time in the restaurant industry to the classroom, and in her eight years, has solidified Pacifica High School as one of the state’s top high school culinary programs. With her mantra to ‘never stop learning,’ Kristen has built skills in gardening, dry-aging meat and pancetta making, which she weaves into classroom instruction and uses to fuel her students’ success in the ProStart Cup competition and beyond.

In addition to vying for The James H. Maynard Teacher of the Year, a national award and $10,000 prize awarded by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Kristen will be part of the newly established ProStart Educator Fellows program, a year-long engagement opportunity culminating with a gathering of all the fellows from across the county in October.

Art Based Scholarship for VUSD 12th Graders Due March 27

Rotary Club of Ventura is excited to offer the Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarship for Ventura Unified 12th graders who will be pursuing higher education and/or career training. In the 6th year, the scholarship asks students to provide an artistic response for their thoughts on peace.

The Perspectives on Peace Scholarship embraces a broad spectrum of artistic expression, inviting students to submit entries in various formats such as video, photography, dance, music, poetry, digital art, industrial art, paintings, sketches, multimedia work, and more. According to Ken Leandro, Youth Services Director for the Club, “Past submissions have showcased the diverse talents and innovative approaches of students in envisioning and advocating for peace.”

This year, the first place award is $5,000 scholarship with 5 additional Artist of Distinction Awards available at $1000 each.

Applications for the Staci Johnson Ingram Memorial Perspectives on Peace Scholarship are open now through March 27, 2024. For application and more information please visit perspectivesonpeace.org.

 

SEEAG’s “Bus Bucks” Fundraiser For Student Farm Field Trips

For each Farm Lab field trip, SEEAG gives schools $300 for bus expenses.

Each year, elementary school students travel by bus to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture’s (SEEAG) free Farm Lab program at Petty Ranch in Ventura and Allan Hancock College’s Demonstration Orchard in Santa Maria. While at the farms, students learn about the farm origins of their food. Funds raised through SEEAG’s current “Bus Bucks” fundraiser will help offset school bus expenses so that field trips remain entirely cost-free to students, teachers and schools.

For each Farm Lab field trip, SEEAG gives schools $300 for bus expenses. Currently, SEEAG is scheduled to host 70 field trips in 2024. To ensure there are enough funds to pay for transportation, the Bus Bucks’ goal is to raise $20,000.

“High transportation costs often prevent schools from offering field trips,” says Mary Maranville, founder and CEO of SEEAG. “We don’t want transportation to be an obstacle. If we receive enough donations during the Bus Bucks campaign, thousands of Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara county students will be able to travel from their schools to one of SEEAG’s Farm Lab locations.”

In the 2022/23 school year, SEEAG educated 7,547 students from 21 school districts about local agriculture during 58 field trips to its two Farm Labs. That number is projected to increase to 10,600 students from 83 school districts in the 2023/24 school year. Most students have never been to a farm. Many who attend are low-income, Title 1 students.

To make a Bus Bucks donation, go to https://www.seeag.org/bus-bucks. For more about SEEAG’s ag education programs, go to www.seeag.org. To watch a video about how donations are used, go here.

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 100,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

Vol. 17, No. 12 – Mar 6 – Mar 19, 2024 – Ojai News & Events

Ojai Events

Dance Ojai, a newly established dance arts organization, proudly announces the inaugural Ojai World Dance Festival, celebrating cultural diversity and artistic creativity. The festival will take place on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, from 7-9 PM at the iconic Libbey Bowl in Ojai, California.

The Ojai World Dance Festival promises to be a mesmerizing evening of vibrant and magnetic multicultural dance performances featuring highly acclaimed artists from around southern California. Audiences will be treated to diverse dance styles, including Indian classical dance, flamenco, samba, contemporary, and more, showcasing the rich tapestry of global dance traditions.

Join Dance Ojai for an unforgettable evening of celebration and unity at the Ojai World Dance Festival. Tickets are available online at www.OjaiDanceFestival.org.

For more information about Dance Ojai and the Ojai World Dance Festival, please visit www.DanceOjai.org or contact their team at [email protected].

Visit the Ojai Library at 2:30pm on Sundays in March, April, and May to participate in the library’s new Wonder Workshop craft program!

Calling all curious minds and creative souls! The Ojai Library is thrilled to announce the launch of its newest event series, the Wonder Workshop, designed specifically for adults eager to explore the world of fiber arts. Led by Library Technician Tawny, each month will bring a unique focus on a different topic, promising an enriching and hands-on experience for participants.

The Wonder Workshop series aims to provide a welcoming and engaging environment where adults can delve into various fiber arts methodologies, learn new skills, and unleash their creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a complete beginner, there’s something for everyone in this exciting lineup.

These events are free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

Vol. 17, No. 12 – Mar 6 – Mar 19, 2024 – Community Events

Events by Ana Baker

The “Ventura High School Class of 71 Turns 71” Reunion will be held on June 22,2024, at the Pierpont Raquet Club (500 Sanjon Rd. Vta) from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Beer, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and light appetizers will be served. Please RSVP by June 1st to: [email protected]
$50 per person-payment information to follow your RSVP

Wanna Play Bridge? Join us for ACBL-sanctioned duplicate bridge games every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 12:30 p.m. All levels of play, and we will guarantee to have a partner for you if you need one. Lessons are available. Contact: Richard 805-850-8011, Rose 805-659-9223, or [email protected]. All Welcome.

The Ventura County Philatelic Society’s meetings are held every first and third Monday of the month at the Church of the Foothills, Ventura. Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. A website with more information can be found at https://venturacountyphilatelicsoc.org.

Monthly Beach Cleanup First Saturday of every month! Meet your neighbors and help keep our beach looking fresh. Hosted by Pierpont Beach Community Council in partnership with Surfrider. Meet up at the end of Seward near the beach. (1140 S Seward St) 8:30-10:30 a.m. Arrive any time during the timeframe. Fun for the whole family. Supplies provided BYO water.

Paws for Reading brings together young readers and affectionate canine listeners to help boost the confidence of beginning readers. Hill Road Library, Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5 p.m. and

E.P. Foster Library, Thursdays, 4 – 5:30 p.m. Join PAWS dogs for one-on-one reading sessions. Arrive at the library early to choose a book and get in line to read a special pooch. Children of all ages are welcome.

Livingston’s Grief and Bereavement program in Camarillo is adding new grief support groups that cater to specific bereavement needs. These closed-ended support groups are Parent Loss of Child under age 21(March 7th through May 9th) and Adult Loss of Sibling (March 26th through May 7th). For more information or to enroll, contact 805-389-6870 or online at lmvna.org/grief. Space is limited. All support groups are free for the community.

March 10: Olivas Adobe 11- 3 p.m. Help us celebrate the birthday of Don Raymundo Olivas at his rancho home, take a docent lead tour, and view the new Celebrating Animals of the Rancho exhibit in the small adobe. Learn how the Olivas family gained and prospered in the beautiful Rancho San Miguel.  At 1 p.m., volunteer training will be for those wanting to spend more time at this hacienda by the sea. There are many ways to volunteer. Plein Aire Ventura County artists will be on-site to paint the coming of spring at the Adobe; all artists are welcome to join. www.cityofventura.ca.gov/OlivasAdobe

March 12:Ventura Audubon Society’s March 2024 Program “Birds and Offshore Wind Energy Development: BOEM’s Avian Study Strategy to Assess Data Needs and Effects” with David Pereksta: Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Poinsettia Pavilion and streaming via Zoom: The offshore waters and the coastline of the Pacific states and Hawaii provide year-round habitat for many bird species, at least 13 of which are federally listed as threatened or endangered, and 80 others have some level of special status designation. This is a presentation you’ll not want to miss! For more information, visit www.venturaaudubon.org/speakers.

March 13: The Channel Islands Bicycle Club (CIBike) is presenting a free, open invitation to an evening of socializing and enjoying a biking presentation. Bicycles, Bikepacking, and Brews 6:30-8 p.m. at Topa Topa H Q and Brewery, 4880 Colt Street, Ventura. CIBike is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization founded 30 years ago in Ventura County. presentations, bike safety classes for youth, and many other activities. CIBike also has an established grant program that has supported many local non-profits over the years. For more info: www.cibike.org

March 16: On Saturday afternoon, from 1-4 p.m., the Ventura County Genealogical Society will present two lectures. The first is “Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking,” by Paula Stuart-Warren, followed by Stephanie O’Connell on “Reconstructing the Lives of Female Irish Ancestors.” All VCGS lectures are free and open to members and the public. Non-members may request a Zoom invitation at https://venturacogensoc.org/request-invitation-to-lecture/. Please note that VCGS cannot respond to same-day requests.

VCGS is an all-volunteer, public-benefit non-profit corporation [501(c)(3)]. Donations are greatly appreciated. For more information: https://www.venturacogensoc.org.

March 17: Ventura East Rotary is holding our second annual St Patrick’s Day party at Topa Topa brewery on Colt street Ventura from 1-6 pm . The Party includes Irish music and food plus Topa Topa brews a special St Patrick’s Day beer for this event.

All proceeds go to the Ventura Medical Center Ronald McDonald Family Room “Walk for Kids” fundraiser.  Ventura East Rotary meets Thursday at noon at Poinsettia Pavilion, visitors are welcome to learn about how Rotary makes a difference in our community and world.

March 17: Anyone interested in timepieces, both antique and modern, can join the Ventura County chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors for a watch/clock marketplace, lunch, and a presentation on a horological topic. Bring a watch or clock for a free evaluation at 11 a.m. at the Campus Student Center of Ventura College, 4667 Telegraph Road. nawcc-ch190.com. For Details, contact: Bob McClelland, Director, Public Information (818) 225-8212 [email protected]

March 19: Ventura Senior Men’s Group. We welcome new members, so feel free to visit during the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays for lunch. Your first lunch is free. Members pay $25 for lunch and $25 for annual membership. Mel Felix will give a presentation on Edward Curtis, the famous photographer. According to the Smithsonian, “Edward S. Curtis (1868–1952) undertook the most ambitious photographic project in American history—to take photographs of the Native Americans of the American West before their traditional lifeways disappeared. VSMG meets at the Poinsettia Pavilion, 3451 Foothill Rd.

 

The Bookmark About Libraries and Friends

by Mary Olson

Ventura author P. Scott Corbett will visit the Ojai Library at 2 pm on Saturday, March 23, to talk about his new trilogy of books: Harvest of Hunger, Fortune’s Retrieval, and Pursuing Shadows.

Meet the author who turned a lifelong passion for writing, China, and Asia into compelling historical fiction. Hear him discuss his works, the creative process, and publishing.

P. Scott Corbett received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Kansas Columbia University. He has taught American history at the college level for over 30 years, including at Ventura College and CSUCI. He has also taught American history in China and Singapore.

The trilogy recounts the saga of four generations of an American family serving as missionaries and cultural ambassadors in China. Though a certain amount of literary license has been used in developing the narratives, they do track closely actual historical events and experiences of actual people encompassing the North China famine of 1920-21, war-torn China from 1937 to 1945 and China in the 1980s.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Wise Owls Book Club, a book club for adults who enjoy reading children’s literature, meets at Hill Library on Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 pm to discuss Road The Complete Fairy Tales by George Macdonald. George MacDonald occupied a major position in the intellectual life of his Victorian contemporaries. This volume brings together all eleven of his shorter fairy stories as well as his essay “The Fantastic Imagination”. His children’s stories were profoundly experimental, questioning the association of childhood with purity and innocence, and the need to separate fairy tale wonder from adult skepticism and disbelief. To join the mailing list for this Book Club please email [email protected] Visit the Hill Road Library to pick up the latest selection.

Families and children are invited to visit the Hill Road Library at 3:14 pm on Thursday, March 14, to celebrate Pi Day — for the love of math … and pie. Pi Day is an annual celebration of math and learning, and it also happens to be Einstein’s birthday, so come and celebrate – make circle art, print π symbol cookie cutters on our 3D printer, and other fun Pi Day activities.

Discover Science on Saturday, March 23, 11:00 am to noon at Hill Road Library. This Rainbow in a Jar water density experiment with sugar uses only a few kitchen ingredients but produces an amazing science experiment for kids!

The Ventura County Library Foundation is bringing its Rising from the Ashes Home Tour back for its third year, on Saturday, April 20, 12:00 to 4:00 pm. This event, celebrating the strength and solidarity of the Ventura County community, features a select number of homes beautifully rebuilt after the Thomas Fire. To purchase tickets, visit https://www.vclibraryfoundation.org/ Proceeds benefit the Ventura County Libraries.

2nd Look Books, the Ventura Friends of the Library Bookstore in E.P. Foster Library is now open 7 days a week.
Monday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
and Sundays, 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
New donations arrive every week and the stock in our store is regularly refreshed. With our extended hours, we could use more volunteers to staff the store. If you would like to help, please stop by the store and speak to a volunteer or email [email protected].

“The British are coming! The British are coming!”

On March 23, at 1pm, Ventura “historian” and author Ivor Davis will introduce his new 60th anniversary “Beatles and Me On Tour” book—and promises to reveal all– despite the consequences. The true story behind the story. The presentation will be at the Portside Ventura Harbor located at 1196 Portside and Schooner Dr. His presentation is free (when presented at the museum it cost $20.00).

Sixty years ago an unlikely quartet from England—Liverpool to be precise—invaded America—and conquered the nation in what turned out to be a bloodless revolution.

We are talking, of course, about 1964, the historic year that John Paul George and Ringo showed up in America—and without spilling a drop of blood were triumphant as they re-wrote rock and roll history. And in doing so, thousands of young women—from sea to shining sea– fell at their feet as the Beatles offered to hold their hand!

Ivor Davis had an exclusive front row seat as this invasion exploded. Embedded with the raiders, he will reveal behind the scenes details of this astonishing coup.

How the USA surrendered to these four lads from Britain, without a single shot being fired!

Breeze publisher Sheldon Brown will be the moderator for the presentation and would love to have you attend. There will be a Q&A after. And wine and snacks will be served.